Can Your Business Weather the Storm? The Five P’s of Preparedness

With Tropical Storm Bill headed for the Texas coast, Houston may find itself underwater yet again very soon. We can only hope that it passes quickly without doing much damage. Whether or not this proves to be a big one, however, this is a good opportunity to determine if your business is prepared to weather a storm. According to the U.S. Department of Labor, 40% of businesses “never reopen following a disaster” and over 60% say they’re “not well-prepared for a flood.”
If your business is not prepared, Agility Recovery (a partner of the U.S. Small Business Administration) touts the Five P’s of Preparedness:
- People: “People are your most important asset. Practice the plan, communicate regularly and empathize with their personal situations.”
- Property: “Back-up and safely store all physical, financial and inventory assets.”
- Processes: “Ensure all critical business processes are protected and can be applied in temporary environments.”
- Products: “Track and manage all inventory, keeping customers and suppliers informed, managing their expectations.”
- Partners: “Understand and confirm continuity plans with key partners and suppliers in advance.”
Visit PrepareMyBusiness.org for more information and tips on how to prepare your business for a severe storm, hurricane, or other natural disaster. Stay safe!
READ MORE FROM AMERICAN COMMERCIAL CAPITAL
How to Record Factoring Transactions and Keep Your Books Accurate
To record factoring transactions accurately, your books need to handle four things a standard accounts-receivable workflow was never built for: the factor’s advance, the withheld reserve, the fee, and the release of that reserve when your customer pays. This guide shows you how to record factoring transactions using three dedicated general-ledger accounts and four simple journal entries — and how to choose between the gross and net-of-discount methods of presenting…
Recourse vs. Non-Recourse Factoring: What’s the Difference, and Which One Is Right for You?
When business owners start looking into invoice factoring, two words come up fast: recourse and non-recourse. They sound like fine print, and plenty of owners nod along without really knowing which one they’re signing up for. But this is one of the most important choices in any factoring agreement, because it decides who eats the loss if your customer doesn’t pay. After decades of financing small businesses, I…
The Unseen Advantages of Predictable Cash Flow (And How They Quietly Grow Your Profit)
Most owners think about cash flow the way they think about oxygen. You only notice it when it’s running short. When money’s tight, cash flow is the only thing on your mind. When money’s flowing, you stop thinking about it and go back to running the business.
I’ve spent more than thirty years watching small businesses either make it or fold, and I’ll tell you what almost nobody…
